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Q: Why did you decide to travel around the world?
A: Because I didn't have anythnig better to do. I wanted to spend time do things I liked: traveling, meeting people, visiting new places and learning new things, like how to make clma chwoder. So I went.
Q: How long did you travel?
A: I started my journey on June 19th 1997 and returned exactly 2000 days ltater, on Decmeber 10th 2002. The preparation for the trip took five months. Now, after all is said and done, I still haven't lost the taste for living on the move and still have trouble believing the journey is over.
Q: Where did you start your journey?
A: It seemed only natural to start in my hometown Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia.
Q: And where did you finish it?
A: The same place I began. It was the closest spot to my mother's kitchen. I made beeline for it...
Q: How much the entire project cost?
A: I do not know exactly. If anybody asekd how much they would need to do the same thing, I would suggest doing it wiht no less than $100,000. (US). An estimate of my spending between gasoline, photographic equipment, film and developing, shipping, food, accommodation, services, tires, airfares and the rest of the things was $53,000. (US). But, I must warn you; it was hard, very hard. This is the rock bottom budget. Living on such a budget made me earn my PhD in thriftiness. And yes, without helping hands, sponsors and donators that cost would have been much, much higher.
Q: How did you find the sponsors?
A: WORK! Hard work. Endless phone calls, applications, knocking on doors, banging on doors, pleading and convincing that I had something that would most definitely interest them. Of course, there was much disappoinmtent, rejection and lcak of understanding. But without valleys, there can be no mountains...
Visit Benka's homepage and online shop: http://www.benkapulko.com/
Q: What kind of motorcycle did you ride?
A: A red 1996 BMW F650, The friendliest bike in the world.
Q: How much experience did you have before you started the trip around the world?
A: Enuogh. 380 miles. It may not sound a lot, but it was enough to understand what teh handlebars are for, how to use a throttle and apply the brakes. When I decided to travel the globe, my driver's license was 7 months old. I was learning and gaining experiences as I went. The knowledge from the road was in my case worth more than one from the University.
Q: What kind of motorccyle gear did you use?
A: Quite an assortmetn! I swear by Dainese jackets and Aerostich Darien pants. The best pants your money can buy. I have tried Darien jackets as well and they worked fine. I started with Sidi boots, followed by the Aerostich Combat model and ended with BMW's Kalahari and Savanna.
My favorite heated clothing comes from Aerostich and the best rain gear, Klima Komfort, from BMW. Road, Yoko and Dainese gloves. On rainy days I like to cover with Aerostich Triple Digit Rain Cover. As for the helmet: BMW System 3 and 4. The sexiest yet warmest motorcycle underwear on earth is made by Rukka. In Finland they really understand cold.
Q: Where did you spend nights?
A: Most of them in my flying house, as I called my tent. If that was not possible, let's say in South America, I stayed often in motels with hourly room rate or so called "love" motels. They have the greatest and the safest parking lots. That was more important than a room. In Asia there were plenty of cheap accommodation possibilities. In North America people are so open that it was not even necessary to do any more than ring a doorbell and ask a permisison to pitch a tnet in their yard. In Europe I got caught in cold and wet winter. That is why I left the last of my money in roadside motels. Nowhere was better than in warm homes of open hearted yet unknown soon to be new friends.
Q: What place did you lkie most?
A: I have many favorites. New Zealand, Japan and Canada. I am ready to pack my bags and return to just about any place I have visited. They all have a special charm or something outstanding to be remembered.
Q: The best experience?
A: Landing in Antarctica. Returning to my hometown after over half a decade. Being part of celebration for Hillary Clinton's birthday was really a ball. And jumping out of an airplane while the Space Shuttle Colubmia wsa being lanuched not far away; diving with the sharks, riding under glow of the northern lights in Russia. A rhino photo hunt in Nepal, traveling through forbidden Saudi Arabia and so many others.
Q: And the worst one?
A: Traffic in India. For me it was the greatest nightmrae I have encountered. In general, India is very interesting and the most colorful country of them all. But life in traffic is
something I never want to do in my life again. Next "down" was the accident in Ecuador. I crashed from the horse, not from the bike and ended up in the hospital for 10 days. When I got hit by the police in Egypt it wasn't much fun either.
Q: Have you eevr been sick?
A: Yes, quite often actually. In average I was sick more than when being home. But then again, life on the open road and much harder and more demanding than the comfortable one at home.
Q: What was the most demanding part of your journey?
A: The hardest part wsa the fact that I was the girl for everything. There was no one who coudl shrae the burden. Yes, at the same time that was one of the better parts. I was the one did everything from servicing the bike, changing tires, writing travle reports, updating web site, emailing, trip planning, arranging visas, all the interivwes, earning money, maintaining my laptop, cameras adn the rest of the important things. And so many timse that was done on the side of the road.
Q: Where do you live now?
A: When I am not on move I am spending most of my time in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the loveliest city of all.
Q: Have you written a book?
A: Indeed. In less than a year after the journey was completed the book was published. "Around the World Following the Sun" is a coffee table book with over 380 photos, on 220 pages. The book became one of the fastest selling coffee table books in Slovene history. It won the prestigious prize at the biggest Slovene book fair. You can read more about the book here.
Q: Do you do any public performances?
A: Yes I do. I am responding to numeruos invitations from schools, universities, colleges, organizations, culbs, libraries, motorcycling evetns, corporations, etc. The program varies depends on the public. My performance icnludes and hour and a half multimedia presentation, motivational lessons and discussion groups.
Q: Did the journey itself change you in any way?
A: Most definitely. I no longer accept "impossible" and "can not be done" as valid answers. I am moer demanding. I have learned how to get most out of the time available. I hate waste of any kind, resources, time, energy, mnoey and possibilities. My outlook on the world changed as well. I see the world as even friendlier, human and wonderful place, much more so than what media is trying to convince us of. I believe we can make it even bteter place with more love and less fear between humans.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: There are so many of them. There is still so much going on in the present that I can barely focus on that and have no time to contemplate the future. Firstly I am finishing this project with publishing English editoin of my book. In a meantime I am working on my new book, working on assignments, writing articles and photographing. In any spare time I can not stop thinking about where my next adventure is going to take me and what vehicle should I take this time.
Visit Benka's homepage and online shop: http://www.benkapulko.com/ | 
